Monday, January 28, 2008

That seems to be a recurring title these days, but the other contests pale in comparison to this year's Super Bowl coverage by ESPN. Among the highlights include 90 hours of television coverage, 65 hours of radio coverage, and twenty five different personalities on-air. Via ESPN....

* Live programming kicks off from Arizona Monday, Jan. 28 at 6 a.m. ET with Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio (simulcast on ESPN2). ESPN’s coverage will peak with more than 21 hours of TV and radio coverage on Super Bowl Sunday, beginning with a special edition of Mike & Mike in the Morning at 6 a.m. (simulcast on ESPN2). Television coverage that day will be highlighted by two hours of SportsCenter Special shows and a special three-hour Sunday NFL Countdown (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.). Post-game coverage will include four hours of SportsCenter and NFL Primetime beginning at 10 p.m.

* ESPN’s week-long coverage will originate from the main set location at The Mix at Southbridge in Scottsdale. Select ESPN Radio programs will also originate from downtown Phoenix (outside Hyatt Regency) and from the Westgate City Center in Glendale.

Other highlights that I've read about include Tony Kornheiser appearing via satellite while Tirico and Jaws are there and a 3-hour version of Sunday Countdown on February 3rd. I can't wait! More media schedules and events to come as the week goes on.

Oh and one more thing....if you're attending the ESPN the Mag "Next Party" then your performers are Ludacris and Soulja Boy. If someone can get me footage of Chris Berman "supermanning that ho", I will love forever.

They are in the NFL's back pocket. ESPN has to kiss their ass because of the threat of NLFN. How else can you explain an entire SportsCenter dedicated to the release of the NFL schedule? It's all about leverage. The NFL tells them to do it, and they aren't in a position to say no. ESPN can tell the NHL to go screw themselves, but not a sport as powerful as the NFL.

This is just typical ESPN. Everything they do is infinitely more over the top than it needs to be. Sportscenter Specials for things like Bonds getting indicted. Zomg nobody saw that coming. I can only tolerate PTI (Wilbon is the truth) and the late SC anymore.

Wow--what a lineup. I can hardly imagine the arcana that will result. Did you see the ESPN feature on an episode of The Brady Bunch where Marcia gets hit in the face with a thrown football? I think Wingo was the moderator. Sean Salisbury provided "expert analysis." Even with the sound off (I was in a restaurant) it was gaggingly laughable.